Ethics, Rules, and Laws

Using the computer appropriately.

What are ethics

Standards of right and wrong behavior A gauge of personal integrity The basis of trust and cooperation in

relationships with others

Back to Slide 1

What are ethics not?

Laws that carry a criminal penalty Detailed instructions for every possible

situation Flexible and changing depending on each

unique person or situation

Where do ethics come from?

Values of a society Values of a school, business, or

organization Values from family and heritage Values of an individual

An ethical person . . .

Has an inner sense of what is moral and

is able to choose correct behavior in many different situations, including those that are new and different.

What follows an unethical choice?

Lost opportunities Destruction of trust Damage to people

and things And . . . ?

What are rules

Specific guidelines about appropriate use of computers as outlined in . . .

Acceptable Use Policies (AUPs) Professional Codes of Ethics Classroom Disclosures

Back to Slide 1

with . . .

consequences and punishments issued by the computer owners if rules are violated.

This way to AUP

What are laws

Regulations passed by state and federal bodies that protect against some forms of misuse of computers and information resources.

Back to Slide 1

So what if I break the law?

You may not be discovered, this time,

but next time . . . A serial number may be traced A help line may become suspicious An acquaintance may report you A web address may record your visits And more . . .

And just like that, you’re a criminal . . .

with a record

and maybe a fine

and maybe even a jail sentence

when you’re convicted of breaking the law.

Copyright laws.

Software developers own their programs.

Software buyers only own the right to use the software according to the license agreement.

No copying, reselling, lending, renting, leasing, or distributing is legal without the software owner’s permission.

Software licenses: Four types

Public Domain Freeware Shareware All Rights Reserved

Public Domain License

This software has no owner and is not protected by copyright law.

It was either created with public funds, or the ownership was forfeited by the creator.

Rare Unreliable Poor quality Virus-laden

No cost? That may be exactly how much this software is worth.

Freeware License

Freeware is copyrighted software that is licensed to be copied and distributed without charge. Freeware is free because the license says it is, but it’s still under the owner’s control.

Some freeware is

“really good stuff.”

Pegasus Mail Eudora Light Netscape Internet Explorer

Shareware License

The software is licensed for copying and sharing for a trial period, but payment must be made to the owner for permanent use.

Some shareware trials expire on a certain date

Payment depends on the honor system

Purchasing (the right to use) the software may also get you a version with more powerful features and published documentation.

All Rights Reserved License

May be used by the purchaser according the exact details spelled out in the license agreement.

You can’t legally use it--or even possess it-- without the owner’s permission.

“Wonderful stuff!”Word Excel PowerPoint Access Illustrator

MicroType QuarkXPress Fireworks Dreamweaver Vision

Windows Quick Books ClickArt Freehand Flash

In Design Quattro Pro Paint MP3 Point and Click

PhotoShop Age of Empires WordPerfect Anti-Virus Camedia

IF Y

OU DO N

OT ACCEPT T

HIS

LICENSE A

GREEMENT, D

O

NOT OPEN T

HE ENCLOSED

PACKET OR B

REAK THE SEAL

ON THE C

D-ROM

The only right granted to the

Customer is the right to USE

the SOFTW

ARE and

accompanying docum

entation

in accordance with this License

Agreement.

The customer may not modify, translate, copy, reproduce, reverse engineer, disassemble, decompile, or otherwise derive source code from, the SOFTWARE or accompanying documentation, or use it as a basis for the preparation of other software programs

Customers who have purchased a Single-User license may INSTALL and USE the SOFTWARE on one computer.

The software and accompanying documentation may not be transmitted electronically, including over the Internet, rented, loaned, leased, sold, distributed, made available, directly or indirectly, for USE by any other person or entity not covered by this License Agreement.

Excerpts from QuarkXPress software license agreement

Even if you can.

Even if no one will ever find out.

Follow the license agreement or you will be breaking the law.

Software piracy.

Conviction of a first offense can result in a fine of up to 250,000.

and a jail sentence of up to five years.

(Bowyer, 1996, 255)

Laws about nuisance or harassment.

It doesn’t matter if your intention was to be funny, or friendly, or something else. If the person you contact through the Internet is uncomfortable,

Or it’s illegal.

Laws concerningfraud or plagiarism.

Individuals who create “intellectual property” have the right to receive credit

Owners of recorded works deserve to be protected from the incorrect use of their creations

Be sure to give credit where credit is due.

Cite borrowed material with textual citations and a references slide using an accepted format.

Use material in a way that preserves the meaning and context intended by the author

Laws about vandalism.

Attempts to harm or destroy data or hardware of another user, agency, or network can be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Laws about privacy.

Private information cannot be legally used without permission from its owner. Information is owned by the person it describes.

Medical records and school grades are protected by privacy laws.

Other categories of personal information have become more public in recent years. Courts have not set a consistent precedent to preserve the privacy of your full name, address, telephone numbers, debts you owe, court judgments against you, courses you’ve taken, and police actions relating to you.

Be ethical.

Don’t share personal information without that person’s permission.

Always consider ethics, rules, and laws as you choose how to behave when using computers.

References

Bower, Kevin W. Ethics and Computing. IEEE Computer Society Press, 1996.

Hilton, Dr. Thomas, et. Al. “Ethics Teaching Module.” http://complit.usu.edu/ethics_modules.html. (23 Oct. 2002)

Prepared by Toni Simmons